Improvement in letter-package clasps



J. W. RIPLEYJ Letter-Package- Clasp.

No. 221,359. Patented Nov. 4, I879.

N-PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES V. RIPLEY, OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-PACKAGE C-LASPS.

Specification forming part, of Letters Patent No. 221,359, dated November 4, 1879; application filed August 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, JAMES W. RIPLEY, of Columbia, in the county of Boone and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Letter-Package Clasp; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the fastening-plate; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, a perspective view of a package, showing the clasp applied.

Myinvention relates, more especially, to fastening packages of letters and the like mail matter in the postal service. Heretofore such packa ges have been secured by winding around them lengths of twine, which were fastened by tying in a knot-a comparatively slow and wasteful method, as the length of twine thus employed could not be used a second time to advantage. I

The object of my invention is to save time and material in securely fastening such packages. This I accomplish by using an oblong metal plate, A, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, one end of which forms a hook, B, and to the opposite end of which is attached a length of stout co'rd,.c.

To the center of the plate is riveted a metal button, D, the under side of which is beaded,

-D, Fig. 2, and forms, with the upper side of the plate, a wedge-shaped recess, into which the cord is forced, and thus'held fast, in securing a package, 0 D, Figs. 2 and 3.

The manner of fastening a package is shown in Fig. 3. The hook B is caught in the side of the package, the cord 0 is brought around in the direction of the arrows E F, is wedged under the button I), is brought around the package from G'to H, and is finally wedged again under the button D.

As the construction of the clasp is such that no part is liable to be easily broken, Worn, or otherwise gotten out of order, and as the lengths of cord can be used over and over again, the advantages of this method over the methods heretofore employed are clearly apparent.

What I claim is- The plate A, having hooked end B and button D, in combination with a cord, 0, for securing a package, substantially as described.

JAS. W. RIPLEY.

Witnesses:

F. D. EVANS, J. O. HooKADAY. 

